Safari experiences

Arusha may not be known as one of Tanzania's safari powerhouses, but this small, beautiful park has a lot to offer. The closest national park to the airport, you can easily make a day trip to Arusha, which sits in the scenic foothills of Mount Meru. On a game drive through the park, look out for black-and-white colobus, leopard, giraffe and a plethora of plains game. Plus, pods of hippo wallowing in the quiet, pretty lakes. On the clearest of days, you can even see the shimmering, snow-capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro.

As the birds start to sing, set off to explore the Lake Manyara National Park on foot. Armed with a lifetime of knowledge, your guide will take you on a journey through grassy floodplains and lush forests where you'll spy the 'Little Five', named after their larger and more famous counterparts and track big cats, who are often found snoozing in a shady spot. Stop for a picnic of your own under the shade of an acacia before trekking on in pursuit of wildlife. Marvel at your guide's ability to sniff out a herd of elephant, learn the survival tricks of smaller creatures and stroll beside the lake, where flamingos gather in their thousands and thirsty zebra stop for a drink.

The most arid corner of the Okavango Delta, game drives in Savuti are no less thrilling. Take your pick from a dawn or dusk (or a combination of both) safari where your expert guide will take you on a journey across the savannah where great herds of elephant and prides of lion wander - their clashes are astonishing to witness! Other sightings include rare antelope, hyena and packs of African painted dog. After a steaming cuppa or celebratory cocktail to finish, you'll return to camp.

From July, millions of wildebeest crest over the plains of the Serengeti on their ever-moving circuit where the thought of fresh grasses is enough to make them plunge across the flowing Grumeti and Mara Rivers. Drive across the savannah, led by your guide with a good nose for finding the action, and watch enthralled as life and death plays out before your eyes. The wildebeest gather like a storm on the southern banks before making a mad dash across the river, Nile crocodile snapping at their heels and big cats waiting to meet them on the other side. This display of pure nerve is one of the most epic events on the African safari calendar and you can easily spend an entire day out!

If you're longing to capture that safari-defining moment on camera, why not get the expertise of someone who has made their home in the bush and spends their days doing just that? Book a day (or more) in the company of a specialist photographic guide and discover exactly what your camera is capable of. Remote, breathtaking and very photogenic, South Luangwa has become a sanctuary for wildlife including the Thornicroft's giraffe, which is only found here. Whatever the season, you'll learn the art of reading animal's movements, finding the perfect light and clicking just at the right moment. Photographing a leopard on the hunt and lying flat on the plains to snap a herd of elephant only metres away, it's all in a day...

If you've ever wondered whether you'd see a mammoth, we've found the closest thing. Legendary, impressive and rather photogenic, the 'Big Tuskers' of Amboselli are aptly named for their enormous tusks that weigh in at over 50kg and almost brush the ground as they walk. Enjoy a game drive with Mount Kilimanjaro as your backdrop in search of the elephants as they stroll across their domain. There are less than 30 of these soulful creatures left in the world and to see them in the wild and up-close...well there's nothing quite like it.

The day gets off to a wild and wonderful start at the 220-hectare Villiera Nature Sanctuary, where you’ll game drive amongst giraffe, zebra, springbok and other iconic African wildlife. An MCC (sparkling wine) tasting is up next, paired with a selection of handcrafted chocolates, which might help ease the nerves for your next activity: a meeting with the rare birds of Eagle Encounters, a rehabilitation and conservation centre, and a thrilling visit to a crocodile farm. There’s another wine tasting in there too – just in case!